VOCABULARY
incredulity-the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something
tumbrils-an open cart that tilted backward to empty out its load, in particular one used to convey condemned prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution.
tremulous-shaking or quivering slightly
substratum-an underlying layer or substance, in particular, a layer of rock or soil beneath the surface of the ground.
cutlass-a short sword with a slightly curved blade, formerly used by sailors.
adjuration-urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something
accost-approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively
valise-a small traveling bag or suitcase.
evanescence-soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing
garret-a top-floor or attic room, esp. a small dismal one (traditionally inhabited by an artist).
How the vocab helped me
After re-reading the section with the word incredulity I was able to understand more of what the time period was like. The word made the time period seem as if it were so unbearable and unusual that it was unbelievable. Tumbrils was used when talking about Death. Death had had a tumbril in the novel at the time of the Revolution. Obviously this is a symbol of how many people were dying at the hand of the guillotine. Before I did not know what the word meant it was hard to understand the analogy. Now it is easy to see why the word was chosen in this context. Before I knew what this word mean it was hard to understand what the “Cutlass” was. The definition allowed me to better imagine the scene described. After learning the meaning of cutlass I could better understand not only the scene but some weapons of the period and their names. Once I found the what the word adjuration meant I better understood the scene in the book. I could now visualize the tension as the guard stood gun cocked and ready to fire. All the words helped create tension in the scene and made it easy to visualize what was happening.
incredulity-the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something
tumbrils-an open cart that tilted backward to empty out its load, in particular one used to convey condemned prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution.
tremulous-shaking or quivering slightly
substratum-an underlying layer or substance, in particular, a layer of rock or soil beneath the surface of the ground.
cutlass-a short sword with a slightly curved blade, formerly used by sailors.
adjuration-urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something
accost-approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively
valise-a small traveling bag or suitcase.
evanescence-soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing
garret-a top-floor or attic room, esp. a small dismal one (traditionally inhabited by an artist).
How the vocab helped me
After re-reading the section with the word incredulity I was able to understand more of what the time period was like. The word made the time period seem as if it were so unbearable and unusual that it was unbelievable. Tumbrils was used when talking about Death. Death had had a tumbril in the novel at the time of the Revolution. Obviously this is a symbol of how many people were dying at the hand of the guillotine. Before I did not know what the word meant it was hard to understand the analogy. Now it is easy to see why the word was chosen in this context. Before I knew what this word mean it was hard to understand what the “Cutlass” was. The definition allowed me to better imagine the scene described. After learning the meaning of cutlass I could better understand not only the scene but some weapons of the period and their names. Once I found the what the word adjuration meant I better understood the scene in the book. I could now visualize the tension as the guard stood gun cocked and ready to fire. All the words helped create tension in the scene and made it easy to visualize what was happening.